USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1908-1909 > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
The number of lights in commission Dec. 31. 1909, is as follows :
Arcs, 425 Watts A.C. 84
Incandescents, 40 C.P. 246
80 C. P. 2
-- +
Total 332
The Town of Belmont continues to pay for half the cost of the arc at the corner of Lake and Pleasant Streets, and the Arlington Boat Club for half the cost of the arc at the foot of Whittemore Street. As heretofore, the lights are turned on in the early morning when needed by the Highway Dept. for snow ploughing.
The current is reported by Supt. LeBaron as having been up to the required standard during the year.
185
JOINT BOARD
The appropriation for street lighting for the year was $9,440, of which $5,420.64 were expended for arc, $3,742.61 for incan- descents, and $15 for incidentals, leaving a balance of $263.34.
PERMANENT SIDEWALKS. For detail relative to the extension and renewal of permanent sidewalks attention is called to the re- ports of the Town Engineer and Board of Public Works.
. Three thousand dollars was appropriated in March for permanent sidewalks, not less than $1,500 of that amount to be used for extension carried out under the sidewalk Act, Section 43 of Chapter 49 of the Revised Laws. In addition to this $392.95 were received from abutters and 1,277 other receipts, making grand total of $3,405.74.
The total amount expended during the year is $3,362.44, of which $2,159.35 is for extensions and $1,203.09 for renewals, leaving balance of $43.30.
Ten petitions for sidewalk were received and all granted except one. Three were for granolithic, two for edgestone only, and four for brick. In each case the abutter paid his proportion of the cost.
Sidewalk assessments committed to the Collector of Taxes amounted to $124.21.
The Board continues the policy of installing brick sidewalk where possible. No apportionments of sidewalk assessments are authorized as the statute permitting does not appear to have been accepted by the Town.
All sidewalk construction of whatever character must be done in accordance with Town specifications and to the sat- isfaction of the Town Engineer.
In the cost of permanent sidewalk the Board allows abut- ters for tar concrete, one-half the cost; brick, one-half the cost; granolithic, 55 cents per square yard.
POLE LOCATIONS. Nine petitions for pole locations have been granted to the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, on five of which hearings were given as required by law.
The four petitions granted without hearings were for pur- poses of relocating and reconstructing existing lines, hear- ings not being required.
Three petitions for pole locations were granted to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company of Massachu- setts, all without hearings.
186
JOINT BOARD
For further details as to pole locations attention is called: to the report of the Superintendent of Wires.
PLANS APPROVED RELATIVE TO PROPOSED STREETS. Petitions. asking for the approval of plans relative to the following streets were received, hearings given and the action of the Board of Survey taken as indicated.
Hilton and Edgar Streets, plans were approved.
Upland Road, Falmouth Road and Langley Road, plans were- approved.
Proposed street from Mill Street to Schouler Court, plans- were approved.
Henderson Street Extension, plans were approved.
Dudley Street Extension, laid on the table.
Street from Pleasant Street to Jason Street, plans were ap -- proved.
Albermarle Street, plans were approved.
Belknap Street, laid on the table.
Harlow, Everett, Grafton, Raleigh and Oxford Streets, plans- were approved.
Whittemore Street and Footway, plans were approved.
Orvis, Freeman, Randolf, Newcomb Streets and Brooks Ave- nue, laid on the table.
NEW STREETS LAID OUT OR CONSTRUCTED. The following: streets were laid out by the Joint Board in due form under the provisions of law authorizing the assessment of beterments : Henderson Street Extension, Whittemore Street and Footway. ยท
The following streets have been constructed under the Better- ment Act as authorized by the Town appropriation made there- for, namely : Woodland Street, from Jason Street to Bartlett Ave -. nue ; Bartlett Avenue, from Gray Street to Woodland Street.
Betterment assessments amounting to $1470.78 were made aris- ing from the construction of the above named Woodland Street and Bartlett Avenue, and the same committed to the Collector. of Taxes for collection.
These assessments were based on the assessed valuation of the land and were equal to one-half the cost of construction.
Taking plans were executed and accepted by the Board in each. of the above cases.
The total cost of constructing these two streets was $2,941.56.
Attention is called to the reports of Town Engineer and the- Board of Public Works for further particulars in the construc- tion account.
187
JOINT BOARD
THE LAYING OF GAS MAINS. For several years the Arlington Gas Light Company have made extensive laying of gas mains through the streets of Arlington. Permits to do this have been petitioned for by the Company and granted by the Joint Board. While investigating the cause of the destruction of many of our trees on Massachusetts Avenue, near the Centre, it was found that there was, or had been, considerable leakage of gas from some of these gas mains, and that many of the trees had been killed thereby. So far as the trees were concerned the matter was very satisfactorily settled with the Gas Company. The Board, however, believed that extra precaution should be made towards preventing further gas leakage, especially from gas mains laid in the future. The attention of the company was called to the matter, and after several conferences the matter was agreeably adjusted on the following basis: "The Town Engineer shall specify the places in said highways where said pipes shall be laid and maintained. All work done by the com- pany, its servants, or agents, shall be done under the supervision and inspection of said engineer, or by some one designated by him for that purpose. Said work shall be done subject to the approval and satisfaction of said Engineer."
Under this arrangement it is hoped and expected that the pipes will be so laid, the joints so calked, and the trench so filled as to reduce the leakage of gas to the minimum. Mr. Roden, Super- intendent of the Water Works, has been designated as such in- spector for the present by the Town Engineer. Mr. Roden has had considerable experience in such work.
Three petitions of the Arlington Gas Light Company to lay gas mains have been granted during the year and agreements relative to the same duly executed.
UNDERGROUND CONDUITS. The New England Telephone and Telegraph Company of Massachusetts was granted permission to lay and maintan underground conduits and manholes with the wires and cables to be placed therein under the surface of Water Street, from Massachusetts Avenue to the Boston and Maine Railroad.
HENDERSON STREET EXTENSION. At a meeting of the Joint Board, held March 12, 1906, a petition was received from the East Arlington Improvement Association asking for a road and bridge across Alewife Brook, connecting Henderson Street in Arlington with a road from Woodstock Street in Somerville.
The Joint Board, acting as a Board of Survey, appointed a hearing on this petition for March 26, 1906, and advertised the
188
JOINT BOARD
same in accordance with Section 3 of Chapter 249 of the Acts of 1897.
On March 26, 1906, the hearing as advertised was given, and the sentiment appeared to be that Henderson Street should be- extended and a bridge built.
Such connection would give quick inter-communication be- tween Clarendon Hill section in Somerville and Henderson- Street section in Arlington, with many advantages to both sec- tions growing therefrom. To obtain this connection required! joint action on the part of both Somerville and Arlington au- thorities.
Under the Board of Survey Act of Arlington a second hearing was necessary for the purpose of acting on plans relative to the extension of Henderson Street, but no such plan could be made - at that time because no lines and grade could be determined in view of anticipated changes and improvements to Alewife Brook .. It was known that in the purification of Alewife Brook and ad- jacent areas by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners the loca -- tion of the brook was likely to be very materially changed, but just what and where these changes would be was not then known. The Board, therefore, instructed the Town Engineer to draw up plans showing lines and grades as soon as sufficient data would be obtained, at which time a second hearing would be appointed. It was evident that this data was likely to be slow in coming. The - Board, however, could not well act without it, for when the Board of Survey fixes the lines and grade of a proposed street, these lines and grade form the basis for the laying out of said: street later by the Joint Board, and still later of its acceptance . and construction by the Town. In fact the Town would not be - justified in accepting as a public way or appropriate money for the construction of a street when lines and grade were not of a permanent character. Indeed, by approving plans of such a. character the Board of Survey would be doing the very thing it - was established to prevent, namely, the indiscriminate and unde- sirable layout of streets.
Thinking it would facilitate matters if the County Commis- sioners could be induced to lay out and establish lines and grades . for the streets and bridge necessary to connect Henderson Street - with Woodstock Street, the Board of Selectmen petitioned said ' Commissioners relative to the same. The County Commissioners .. gave a hearing on this petition January 17, 1907.
The next day the Selectmen received a communication from : the County Commissioners, in which they say :-
189
.
JOINT BOARD
" In the matter of the petition of your Board to lay out an exten- sion of Henderson Street to and across Alewife Brook to some street in Somerville, we are of the opinion, after a hearing, that the way should be laid out.
Owing to the fact that there is a serious question as to our author- ity to lay out a highway in Somerville, we do not consider it advis- able to make a decree at this time which would in terms require the street to be constructed in that city.
The petition will be continued on our docket until such time as may seem proper to take further action.
Enclosed please find copy of portion of Somerville City Charter relating to highways."
Nothing further has been done relative to this petition.
Before the scheme could be carried out it was evident that Somerville and Arlington must act in conjunction, and to this end committees were appointed both by the Board of Aldermen of Somerville and the Joint Board of Arlington.
These committees have been in frequent conferences for the purpose of securing the necessary steps leading to the desired connection of Henderson Street with Woodstock Street.
At this meeting the matter stands as follows: In Somerville the matter of laying out and constructing a street from Wood- stock Street to Alewife Brook and the appropriation of a sum of money towards a bridge have been referred to appropriate com- mittees. These committees have not yet reported.
In Arlington plans have been approved by the Board of Survey, and the extension of Henderson Street to Alewife Brook laid out by the Joint Board. These plans and this layout, however, are null and void because of taking of land made on both sides of the Brook by the Metropolitan Park Commissioners.
It appears that no further action can well be taken by either Somerville or Arlington until authority is obtained from the Metropolitan Park Commission to cross the lands which said Commissioners took for park purposes.
For the purpose of conferring with the Metropolitan Park Commissioners relative to this matter Messrs. Crosby, Hayes and Town Engineer Pond were appointed a committee by the Joint Board. This Committee has not yet reported, but it is believed the said Park Commissioners will co-operate and grant whatever rights are necessary for the crossing of their lands.
SUMMER STREET EXTENSION. The Board has under consid- eration the advisability of extending Summer Street so as to make it, with proper connection, one of the main thoroughfares of the Town, extending from the Medford, Somerville and Win- chester lines to the Lexington line and beyond.
190
JOINT BOARD
Gray Street Extension is also under consideration for a sim- ilar purpose.
In the future development of streets in Arlington, the Board believes a systematic and wise policy should be followed so that in time our Town will have a system of streets creditable to the Board and an honor to the Town.
As bearing on this matter the following is quoted from the report of the Metropolitan Improvement Commission :
" The street system of Arlington belongs to that general type illus- trated upon page 196. The only through street of the Town is Massa- chusetts Avenue, which serves local purposes besides connecting Concord, Bedford and Lexington with Boston. For reasons already described at length towns having this primitive street system should take measures to develop as through roads the series of crooked and dead-ended streets which parallel the main road. Arlington should extend and widen Summer Street as a continuation of Lowell Street, past the Almshouse along the north side of the railroad. The eastern end of Summer Street should be connected by a more direct route with Chestnut and Warren Streets and thus form a main trunk road through the Town. So abrupt is the ground on the southern side of Massachusetts Avenue that a through street cannot be developed there. To form a convenient cross-district line from West Medford to Belmont and Arlington River Street should be connected with Lake Street and the latter through Hill Street with Huron Avenue. Mystic and Pleasant Streets should be improved as impor- tant cross-district thoroughfares.
Among street improvements of a more local importance may be mentioned the following: extend Devereaux Street along the borders of Spy Pond to connect with Lombard Terrace at one extremity and with Pleasant Street at the other. Without a system of protecting border streets (see plans opposite page 197) Spy Pond property can- not develop conveniently or in a way to avoid unsightly misuse of its shores. A new protective street is also needed from Chestnut Street along the westerly borders of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery and following the line of Sucker Brook to Orient Avenue. In the future development of the streets of Arlington and Arlington Heights the Town authorities should attempt to control the private subdivision of land by streets of excessive steepness. This undesirable class of public ways has gained a foothold in the Town and should be held in check."
THE WIDENING OF MEDFORD STREET. The advisability of wid- ening Medford Street is under consideration and the Town Engi- neer has been instructed to draw plans with this end in view, especially that part east of Hamlet Street. It is possible the County Commissioners may be petitioned relative to the matter.
PLANS ACCOMPANYING PETITION :. As requested by this Board, the Arlington Gas Light Company submit plans with peti- tions sent in by them asking for permission to lay gas mains.
We now have plans accompanying all petitions from public
191
JOINT BOARD
service corporations using the public streets and requiring the opening of the same for the laying of pipes, conduits, etc.
These plans are on file for ready reference.
VOTE OF THANKS. In consideration of the services to the Town rendered by Professor Peter Schwamb, the Board felt it proper to pass the following vote February 27, 1909 :
Voted: That a vote of thanks be given to Professor Peter Schwamb upon his voluntary retirement as a member of this Board, in recognition of his long and meritorious services as a member of this Board and as an official of the Town; and that a copy of this vote be spread upon the records of the Board.
POLICY OF THE BOARD. The following votes indicating the policy of the Board have been passed.
(a) Width of Streets. At a meeting held October 14, 1907, it was
Voted, That it was the sense of the Board of Survey not to ap- prove of plans for the laying out or constructing of streets less than forty feet wide.
(b) Crosswalks. At a meeting held October 28, 1907, it was
Voted, That whenever a sidewalk is changed by the construc- tion of a new street the sidewalk, including the new crosswalk, must be relaid in as good and permanent a form as before the change, the cost to be a charge against the party constructing the street. In case the Town desires a higher cost walk than existed before the change was made the additonal cost must be made by the Town in case of permanent sidewalks only.
(c) Rough Grading of Private Streets. At a meeting held December 9, 1907, it was
Voted, That after January I, 1908, no water or sewer pipes shall be laid in streets approved by the Board of Survey until such streets, including sidewalks, have been brought to subgrade satisfactory to the Town Engineer.
J. HOWELL CROSBY, FREDERICK S. MEAD, PHILIP A. HENDRICK, WILLIAM N. WINN, HENRY W. HAYES, RODNEY T. HARDY,
Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works.
REPORT OF TOWN COUNSEL.
To the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works :
Gentlemen :- I submit herewith my report as Town Counsel for the year 1909.
Final judgment for the Town has been entered in the Superior Court in the suit of Nathan Robbins, which was a claim of $3,285, to recover back taxes alleged to have been illegally assessed and collected.
The claims of Arthur Birch and Martha W. Birch, for dam- ages arising by reason of the change of grade of Wollaston Ave- nue, flowage from Bow Street, sewer takings, widening of Bow Street and injury to artificial pond occasioned by the construc- tion and maintenance of storm drain, have been settled for $200.
On the petition of your Board, filed in 1907, for the abolition of grade crossings over the Boston and Maine Railroad at Avon Place and Whittemore Street, a commission was appointed, pub- lic notice given, hearings held in Arlington and Boston, and early in November a final decree was entered abolishing the grade crossings, the entire expense to be borne by the railroad, Avon Place and Whittemore Street being private ways.
Hearings were held by a special commission and the Town represented, in the matter of the apportionment of the cost of constructing a new bridge on Mystic Avenue, Charlestown, among certain corporations and cities and towns. Under the final decree Arlington was not called upon to contribute to the cost of construction, although it was argued that Arlington did derive some benefit therefrom.
In the matter of the petition of the Boston and Lowell and Lawrence Railroad for a certificate that public convenience and necessity required the construction of an interurban railroad through various cities and towns, including Arlington, from Bos- ton to Lowell and Lawrence, the Town was represented at the hearings before the Railroad Commissioners. Two routes through Arlington were suggested, both of which would result in great individual property damage, would decrease the taxable property and would impair the development of property in the Town. In
193
TOWN COUNSEL
opposition the Town offered an alternative plan showing a route which eliminated Arlington as one of the towns through which the contemplated road would pass. No finding has as yet been made on the petition by the Railroad Commissioners.
The legal work of the various Town departments has been attended to.
Respectfully submitted,
HORACE D. HARDY, Town Counsel.
REPORT OF THE TOWN ENGINEER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS.
ARLINGTON, MASS., Jan. 24, 1910.
To the Joint Board of Selectmen and Board of Public Works:
Gentlemen :- Herewith is respectfully presented a report con- cerning work under my charge for the year 1909.
The organization and character of work has been the same as last year.
ENGINEERING. There is no separate appropriation for engi- neering, therefore the expense is charged each week to the De- partment or Appropriation for which services are rendered.
The classification is shown in the same form as in previous years, so that comparison can easily be made.
Highway Division : For marking all lines and grades, making plans, profiles, estimates, locations and records of work done and in contemplation by the division $645.53
Sewer Division : For all surveys, plans, profiles, lines, grades and records, including superintendence on cleaning and flushing sewers. 276.18
Superintendence and inspection on sewer con- struction 308.82 Superintendence and inspection on particular sewer construction
173.13
Water Division: For all lines for new mains and locations and records of gates, hydrants, specials, service boxes, work on registration data and office records, and reading meters. 440.38
New Streets: For all engineering work required in the construction of new streets by Highway Di- sion under Special Appropriations. 66.36
Sidewalks: For all lines, grades, measurements of edgestone, concrete, brick and artificial stone walks, data for assessments, etc. 69.77
195
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
Board of Survey : For all surveys, plans and profiles of streets laid out by the Board, and studies in con- nection with the street locations under consideration by the Board 37.07
Storm Drains: For all surveys, plans, grades and superintendence on construction II3.26
Cemetery Trustees : For all plans, surveys, grades, etc., in connection with new travelway construction, grading and locating additional areas
5.08
Miscellaneous : Copying plans and deeds from Reg- istry at East Cambridge, description of real estate and tax titles, street numbering plans, work for Park Commissioners, and all miscellaneous work for the various boards and committees. 68.85
Total $2204.43
It should be understood from the above classification that the amounts charged to engineering include about $500 for clerical work in the Board of Public Works office.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. For details of work under the di- rection of the Board concerning locations, costs, quantites, etc., reference is made to the statistical tables contained in their report.
HIGHWAY DIVISION. The greater part of the work of the Highway Division for the year has been the general maintenance of streets and sidewalks, and all matters relating thereto.
It has been the aim of the Division to maintain a general stand- ard of conditions throughout the Town, giving special attention to those portions of the highways where the greatest travel occurs.
Massachusetts Avenue throughout its entire length is perhaps more heavily traveled than any other of our thoroughfares, and consequently requires the largest expenditure for maintenance. Particularly is this true between Water Street and Arlington Heights, where the street is narrow and where the travel is more congested.
It is expected that the Boston Elevated Railway Company will make extensive repairs to their track; in fact, will probably relay the same on Massachusetts Avenue above Water Street during 1910, which will require a readjustment of the street surface by the Town. With this contemplated work in mind, only such re-
196
TOWN ENGINEER'S REPORT
pairs to the street as seemed positively necessary were made dur- ing the year. It is hoped when this track is relaid that a new grade for the avenue may be secured which will result in im- proved drainage conditions. It will, however, be impossible to maintain this section of the street by any method except some form of permanent pavement, without considerable yearly repair.
Massachusetts Avenue, between Winter Street and Arlington Centre on the northerly side, and between Avon Place and Pleas- ant Street on the southerly side, was in very poor condition be- cause of not having been resurfaced for some years, although the Boston Elevated Railway Company's track had been relaid to a permanent grade as far as Medford Street. It therefore seemed wise to complete this portion of the street during the past year. In this construction several different methods of tar and macadam were used, and I believe good results have been obtained. There were 16,230 square yards of resurfacing done in this work at an average cost per square yard of 53 cents for both tar and macadam construction. A similar reconstruction was used on a portion of Mystic Street, near Old Mystic Street, which had become almost entirely worn out.
Pleasant Street, Mystic Street, Medford Street and Broadway, where depressions, caused by wear and settlement, occurred, were patched with tar and stone during the past two years with suc- cess. By this process a considerable amount of labor and ma- terial have been saved. Mystic Street, from Summer Street to the Winchester line, which had been treated with Tarvia for the preservation of the street surface and in substitution for street watering in 1908, was again treated this year, with the result that very little wear is indicated on the surface of the street ; and there has been absolutely no street watering required. The same treatment was applied to portions of Broadway, Lake Street and Medford Street, with the same effect. Pleasant Street through- out its entire length, portions of Mystic Street, Medford Street and adjacent streets were treated with oil (Terrecolia and Stand- ard) and the street watering service withdrawn, with, I believe, satisfaction to the owners of abutting estates and the general public. The cost of these treatments is $2,291.78; equal to about 21/2 cents per square yard for area treated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.